Sheet feeder



, Dec. 30, 1 924.

L.. J. FROHN SHEET FEEDER File d Feb. 28, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEITOR B y anard 1/0 26 @0614 II I A TTORNEY 1.. J FROHN SHEET FEEDERFiled Feb. 28, 1922 4 Sheet-Sheet 2 IN VEN OR Fink? ATTORNEY By :a a'dzf Dec. 30, 1924.

L. J. FRCJHN SHEET FEEDER Filed Feb, 28, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Y OE WM Hw V7flT m u w m L. J. FROHN SHEET FEEDER Dec. 30, 1924.

Filed Feb. 28, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 11v VENTOR fi'afi A TTOR NE YPatented mes. 3369, 31%24.

LEONARD JOSEPH FROHN, 01E L'Y'NBROOK, NENV YORK.

gHEET FEEDER.

I Application filed February 28, 1922. Serial No. 539,869.

T all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LEONARD JOSEPH FRoHN, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Lynbrook, in the countyof Nassau and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprove ments in Sheet Feeders, ofwhich the following is aspecification, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, formina part thereof.

y invention relates to certain improvements in sheet-feeding machinesfor automatically separating and feeding successive sheets of paper toprinting,.folding or ruling machlnes, or to other types of machineswhich are devised thereafter to operate on such sheets.

The objects of my invention are, among other things, chiefly to improveand simplify the various mechanisms required to properly separate andcontinuously feed the successive sheets, preferably from a fanned-outbank of paper, automatically and with great rapidity. To this end I havedevised a continuous front edge feeder which will separate and advancethe sheets in a continuous flow by mechanisms operating on the frontportion of the sheets, such sheet forwarding mechanism being controlledby the steady advance of the front margins of the pile or bank of paper.

A further feature of my invention is to embody a suction feed-wheel forcontinu ously feeding the sheets forwardly in a sheet-feeder of thecontinuous type, and to provide in such feeder automatic mechanismswhich will ensure a constant supply of paper to be acted upon by thissuction wheel.

Another feature is to provide a novel pile detector which will operateindependently of the suction feed-wheel, and also independently of thenumber or timing of the sheets advanced thereby, so as to inaugurate theaction 'of' the bank or pile feed devices whereby. the paper sheets maybe advanced and maintained at the proper thickness beneath thefeed-wheel which operates on the front margins of such sheets;

A further. object of my invention is to provide a novel form ofadjustable piledrag which may be set at different positions to bear onthe rear margins of the fanned out sheets on the top of the pile, and isconstructed and arranged above-the feed-table to bear on the top andsubjacent sheets with a variable spring pressure so as to maintain therear edges of the .top sheets in proper alinement with a light yet firmpressure which will not interfere with the proper continuous feeding ofthe sheets.

A further object of my invention is to embody in such improvedsheet-feeder means for holding the front edges of the topmost sheets toarrest their forward feeding when the suction is cut off from thesuction feedwheel thereby stopping the forwarding 0f the sheets.

My improved sheet-feede also embodies other features of novelty andimprovement whereby the various operating'mechanisms are simplified andmade more effective and otherwise better adapted for use, all of whichwill be hereinafter described and particularly pointed outin theappended claims.

The drawings show my invention in its preferred embodiment in acontinuous sheetfeeder; my improvements, however, are not to berestricted to any particular type of sheet-feeder, since the inventionmay be embodied in various forms of sheet-feeders with the sameadvantages and results.

Of the drawings, Fig. l is a front view looking from'the left in Fig. 2certain parts of the feeder being omitted;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 in which parts ofthe. sheet-detector mechanism have been omitted for the sake ofclearness;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 5shov-ing a portion of the stop mechanism for controllin the operation ofthe bank feed devices;

ig. t is a detail view partly in section showing the stop mechanismlocked in inoperative position;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line '5-5 shown inFig. 1, and

illustrating the detector mechanism in its position when no sheets arein the feeder;

Fi 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the detector mechanism whenthe feeder is operating normally when the bank or pile of sheets underthe suction feed- Wheel is of the proper thickness;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the stop-rod as havingbeen moved by its cam-controlled mechanism when the detector wheellowers upon the pile of sheets becoming depleted and less than the re?quired thickness beneath such detector wheel.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing the check-rod on theratchet-pawl arm, as it will appear when the stop-rod is moved to theleft to allow the operation of the ratchet mechanism;

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic View showing the pawl-carrying ratchet arm ashaving been rocked to advance the bank feed belts;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary detail View showing the mechanism to controlthe operation of the stop rod;

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic side elevation of the feeder showingparticularly the coacting feed belts for the upper supply table andlower feed table;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged plan view showing the pile drag for the bank ofsheets before the suction feed-wheel; and

Fig. 13 is an enlarged sectional detail view of the pawl which engagesthe ratchet for moving the feed belts on .the lower feed table.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the various figures.

Referring to Fig.-11,'the upper loading board or supply table 14 issupported by standards 15 to the side frames 16. A series of feed belts17 travel over pulleys l8 and 19 and extend over the surface of. thesupply table 14 and around the drum 20 mounted on the shaft 21 togradually feed forward the bank of sheets loaded on such supply table14. The lower feed-table 22 is attached to the frames 16, and a seriesof feed-belts 23 (Fig. 12) pass over pulleys 24 and 25 mounted on shafts26 and 27 respectively journalled in the frame, said belts 23 extendingover tli upper surface of the feed table 22 to advance the bank or pileof sheets to the sheet feeding and separating devices; The drum 20 isrotatable in the frame 16, and serves to transfer the bank of sheetsfrom the supply table 14 to the feed-table 22. The drum 20 is revolvedin the direction shown by the arrow by a train of gears driven from thegear 28 secured on the shaft 26. To hold the sheets close to the drum 20while being reversed from the table 14 to the table 22, I have devised aseries of spaced apart endless tapes 29 which pass around the pulley 24,drum 20, and pulleys '30, 31,' and '32, the pulley 32 being journalledin the rock-arm 33 to act as atension device :t'or the tapes by theforce of the spring 34 coiled about the sliding rod 35 pivoted to. thearm 36 which spring normally tends to depress the rock-arm 33 with thepulley 32 to take up any slack in the tapes 29. The

shaft 27 carries the ratchet 37 by which the feed-belts 23 areintermittently advanced over the feed-table 22to carry the bank offanned-outsheets to the feedingdevices.

. l n the present embodiment the sheet feeding and separating devicescomprise a suc-.

tion feed-wheel 38 having a perforated rim 39 which wheel is mounted onthe shaft 40.

' by the belt 49 and pulley 50 from any suitable source as shown inFigs. 1 and 11. The

suction mouth-piece 51 rests on the inner face of the perforated rim 39,and is connected to the transverse suction tube 52 by the pipe 53. Therequired suction to operate the wheel 38 is applied to the tube 52 byanysuitable means not shown. The sheets adhere to the perforated rim 39 ofthe wheel '38 during the rotation of the latter, and are takenoft by theupper feed roll 54 journalled on the arfn 55 mounted on the shaft 40,and the lower feed-roll 56secured to the rotating shaft 45. The frontedges of the sheets are kept separated by a blast of air from the nozzle57 mounted on the pipe adjustably secured to the bracket 59 andconn'ected with any suitable air pump, not

shown, after such sheets pass over the guide plate 60 mounted onbrackets 61 secured to the tie rod 62 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2; alsoaffixed to the rod 62 are the horizontally bent guide-fingers 63extending forwardly from the guide plates 60 to the lower feed-roll 56to support the sheets as shown in Fig. 2. Mounted to the transverseshaft 64 journalled in the guide-plates 60 are the oscillatablehold-back fingers 65 which are normally depressed into their full lineposition as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but are raised into the path of theadvancing sheets to engagethe front edges of the sheets by the 0svcillation of the shaft 64 through the arm 66 secured to one end of theshaft 64 (Fig. 1 whicharm is connected by the link 67' to the lowerendof the hand-lever 68 pivoted at. 69 to the frame 16 as shown in Fig. 2.Also pivotally secured to the lower end of the lever 68 is the link 70connected to the arm 71 which actuates the oscillating valve 72in thetube 52 which is thereby opened to atmosphere, and immediately cuts offthe suction from the mouthpiece 51 rendering the wheel 38 ineffective.By shifting the hand-lever 68 the pressman can simultancouslydiscontinue the feeding of the sheets by the suction Wheel 38 and alsoraise the hold-back fingers 65 to the dotted line position shown in Fig.2 to'prevent the forward margins of the front sheets from advancingbeyond the air-blast nozzle 57 The pile detector mechanism which controls the bank feed independently of the action of the suction-wheel 38is best shown in Figs. 1, 3, 5 and 6, and comprises the detector roll 73 pivoted on the end' of the menace rock-arm 74 above one of theguide-plates in transverse alinement with the suction wheel 38 by thespring coiled about the rod 81 pivotally secured to the rock-arm 74, theupper end of the rod 81 passing through a slot in the bracket 82 mountedon the pin 76 as shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 6. Projecting upwardly from thepin 76 and secured to the rock-arm 74 is the rock-finger 83, the tip 84of which is adapted to oscillate in the slot 85 cut in the collar 86formed in the bracket 78. The collar 86 supports a sliding stoprod 87 onwhich the sleeve 88 is adjustably secured by the split collar 89. Thecollar 80 has the circular recess 90 cut therein about the slidingstop-rod 87 (Fig. 3) to permit of the transverse reciprocation of therod 87 and sleeve 88 when the tip 84 of the finger 83 is partiallywithdrawn from the slot 85, or from the position shown in Figs. '3 and 6to that shown in Fig. 5. Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 10,the rod 87 is normally being pressed to the left against the finger tip84, as shown by the arrows in Figs. 7 and 10 by the spring 91 coiledabout the rod 92 which is pivotally secured to the rock-arm 93 pinned tothe bracket 94 aflixed to the frame 16. The free end of the rod 92slides through the bracket 95 on the top of the frame 16 (Fig. 1). Theright hand end of the rod 87 is supported in the bracket 96 affixed tothe frame 16 having the horizontal bore 97 within which the rod 87 isheld and reciprocated. The rock-arm 93 adjustably carries the block 98.which is affixed to the rod 87 by any suitable means such as a set-screw(not shown). The rod 87 is held from moving to the left by the fin er 83engaging the sleeve 88 when the pile of sheets 76 is of sufiicientthickness to hold the finger tip 84 against the sleeve 88 on the rod 87as shown in Fig. 6. However, when the pile of sheets becomes depletedthe detector-roll 73 is lowered by gravity and the spring 80 so as toswing the finger 83 to the left (Figs. 5 and 6), which releases thestop-rod 87 which will be moved to (he left by the spring 91 when thecam-roller 99 on the rock-arm 93 falls into the drop 100 of the cam 101secured to the constantly rotating shaft 40.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 7-10, the right-hand end of thestop-rod 87 coacts with the upper end of the check-rod102 which slidesin the bore 103 formed at right angles with the bore 97- in the bracket96. This check-rod 102 is pinned at 104 to the arm 105 of the bell cranklever 106 pivoted on 'rod 125, the outermost the shaft 27. Dependingfrom the pin 104 is the rod 107 which slides through the bracket 108secured to the frame 16; between the bracket 108 and the collar 109adjustably secured to the rod 107 is'the spring 110 coiled about the rod107. The arm 105 of the lever 106 carries the cam-roller 111 to engagewith the cam 112 secured to the shaft 40. The cams 101 and 112 are sokeyed relatively to each other on the shaft 40 that the roller 99 fallsinto the drop 100 of the cam 101 when the rod 87 is released. justbefore the roller 111 would reach the end of the dwell of the cam 112 toenter the drop 113 of this cam. -Thearm 114 of the lever 106 carries atits end the rocking pawl 115 mounted on the stud 116 which pawl isadapted to engage the ratchet 37. 2 shows the position of the pawl 115when the roller 111 is cam 112 with the spring 110 under compression;Fig. 9 shows the pawl 115 retracted in a. clockwise direction by therelease of the spring 110 when the check-rod 102 slides upwardly throu hthe bore 103 and bore 97 as shown in ig. 8. Referring to Fig. 13 thestud 116 has two flat surfaces 117 and 118 cut therein about-thefpawl115 forming the apex 119; the tail 0 the pawl 115 is formed with a bore120 within which the sliding'pin 121 is yieldingly mounted by the spring122 coiled about the shank 123. lVhen the pin 121 bears on the apex 119,the pawl 115 ratchet 37; when the tail of the pawl is depressed so as toallow the pin 121 to engage the surface 118, the pawl is held out ofenga ement with the rachet which allows the shaft 27 to be rotated bythe operator to advance'or retract the feed belts 23 with the ratchet 37free from its operating pawl.

My improved pile drag to bear with a firm yet variable pressure of thefanned-out bank of sheets is shown in Figs. 2,11 and 12: The tie rod 124is secured in the frames 16 and adjustably carries therearwardlyprojecting rod 125 which may be mounted on the rod 124 by aset-screw 126 and bracket, 127 (Fig. 2) in any convenient manner so asto lengthen or shorten the rod 125 according to the length of theparticular sheets composing the bank or pile 75. The rear end of the rod125 carries the bracket 128 to which is secured the cross-rod 129, andmounted on the rod 129 are pairs of forwardly projecting spring fingers130 of difierentlengths to bear on the rear edges of the uppermostsheets as shown in Fig. 12. Preferably the pair of middle fingers 131are the longest (to bear on the'topmost sheet), and the length of theother pairs are progressively shortened outwardly from the pair 132being the shortest. The object of having the separate pairs of springfingersof difierent lengths held out of the drop of the is free to rideover the teeth ofthe y,

is to provide a pile drag which will exert variable pressure on thetopmost sheets, the pressure of'the outer fingers 132 exerting themaximum pressure because of their relatively small resiliency whencompared with the gradually increasing resiliency as 'the length of thefingers increases, the minimum pressure being exerted by the fingers 131on the topmost sheet of the pile. By this form of pile drag the rearmargins of the fannedo'ut bank of sheets are firmly held by a variablepressure so as to preserve the proper transverse alinement of the sheetson the feed-table 22.

The operation of my sheet-feeder is substantially as follows: IV hen thesuctionwheel 38 is normally feeding the sheets from the fanned-out bank75, the roll 73 is held in the position shown in Fig. 6 with the'fingertip 84 in engagement with the stop-rod 87 as shown in Fig. 3 and thesleeve 88 in close contact with the finger-tip 84 to prevent themovement to the left of the rod 87 under the force of the. coil spring91. The right end of the rod 87 therefore engages the upper end of thecheck-rod 102 as shown in Figs.

1 and 2, and the bell lever 100 is held in the position shown in Fig. 2with the spring 110 under compression and the cam-roller 111 riding onlyon the dwell of the cam 112. However when the feed-wheel 38 hasseparated the top sheets of the bank, and the thickness of the bank isthereby diminished so that it is necessary to advance. the bank or pileby moving the feed-belts 23 on the feed-table 22 and also the belts 17on the table 1 1, the detector-roll 73 .is then lowered by gravity andthe spring 80' so as to swing the linger 83 to the left (Fig. 5),releasing the rod 87 .which will move to theleft when the cam 101revolvesso as to allow the roller 99 to be forced into the drop 100 bythe spring 91 as shown in Fig. 10. This movement of the stop-rod 87 inthe direction of the arrows in Figs. 7 and 10 simultaneously allows thecheck-rod 102 to lift as shown in Fig. 8 un-' der the force of thespring 110 thereby rocking the lever 106 in a clockwise direction asshown in Fig. 9 so as to allow the cam-roller '111 to enter the drop 113of the cam 112 and the pawl 115 to be drawn backwardly over the teeth ofthe ratchet 37; when the lever 106 is rocked in an anti-clockwisedireetion by the cam-roller 111 riding out of the drop -of the cam 112,the ratchet 37 will advance. the feed-belts 23 to forward the bank ofsheets. This'bank-fecd movement through this pawl and ratchet mechanismhold the stop-rod 87 in its right hand posi- 106 to the left as shown inFig. 2 with the cam-roller 111 riding only on the dwell of the cam 112.

Whenever the operator wishes to stop the action of the suctionfeed-wheel38 he shifts the hand-lever 68 which cuts off the suction connection tothe rim 30 through the mouth piece. 51 by operating the valve 72. whichthereby opens the interior of the tube 52 to atmospheric'pressure, andat the same time lifts the hold-back fingers from their full line to thedotted line position shown in Fig. 2 to prevent the sliding-of theforward edges of the sheets over the guide fingers 63 to the bite of thefeed-rolls 54 and 56. No means are provided to prevent overlapping ofthe fed-off sheets beyond the range of the fingers 65, because theleadingedges of such sheets are not advanced by the action of thesuction-wheel 38 beyond the range of the fingers 65 when raised.

The foregoing constructions embody the principles of my invention, butvarious changes may be made in the structural details without departingfrom the scope of my improvements. However the foregoing is suflicientto disclose the underlying principles and advantages of my invention asapplied to a continuous sheet-feeder.

I claim as my invention 1. In a sheet-feeder, a feed-table, means foradvancing a bank of fanned-out sheets along said table, .and constantlyrotating suction-feeding devices operating on the front top portion ofthe bank for separating and forwarding the successive sheets.

2. In a sheet-feeder, a feed-table means I for advancing a fanned-outbank of sheets along said table, and a rotary suction feedwheeloperating on the front portion of the bank-for separating and forwardingthe suceessive sheets. i

4. In a sheet-feeder, a feed-table, means for intermittently advancing afanned-out bank of sheets along said table, and a rotary suctionfeed-wheel operating on the front margin of the bank for separating andforwarding the successive sheets.

5. In a sheet-feeder, a feed-tableineans for advancing a bank offanned-out sheets on said table, rotary suction-feeding devices locatedover the front margin of they bank for continuously separatingthe'successive sheets,-and means actuated by the said device,

6. In a sheet feeder, a feed-table, means for intermittently advancing abank of fanned-out sheets on said table, sheet-feeding devices operatingon the front margin of the bank for continuously separating thesuccessive sheets, and means actuated by the depletion of the bank forcontrolling the operation of said advancing means.

7. In a sheet-feeder, a feed-table, means for'advancing a bank offanned-out sheets on said table, rotary suction-feeding devicesoperating on the front portion of the bank for separating and forwardingthe successive sheets, and means continuously resting on the bank andactuated by the depletion of the bank adjacent said feedingdevices forcontrolling the operation of said advancing means.

8. In a sheet-feeder, a feed-table, means for intermittently advancing abank of fanned-out sheets on said table, rotary suctionfeeding devicesoperating on the front margin of the bank for separating and forwardingthe successive sheets, and means continuously resting on the bank andactuated by the depletion of the bank beneath and in alinement with saidfeedingdevices for controlling the operation of'said advancing means.

9. In a sheet-feeder, a sheet support, a suction-feeding off devicearranged above said support, means for'applying suction to said device,sheet-holding means located at the front edge of the support andnormally out of the path of the fed-off sheets, and means for shuttingoff the suction and moving said sheet-holding means into the path of thesheets.

10. In a sheet-feeder, a sheet support, a suction-feeding off devicearranged above said support, means for applying suction to sheet-holdinglocated at the front edge of the support and normally out of the path ofthe fed-off sheets, and means for simultaneously shutting oif thesuction and moving said sheet-holding means into the path of the sheets.I

11. In a sheet-feeder, a sheet support, a suction-feeding ofi devicearranged above said support, means for applying suction to said device,a series of rock-fingers located at the front edge of the support andnormally out of the path of the fed- 0E sheets, and means for shuttingoff the suction and moving said fingers into the path of the sheets.

12. In a sheet-feeder, a. sheet support, a suction-feeding ofi devicearranged above said support, means for applying suction to said device,a series of rock-fingers located at the front edge of the support andnormally out of the path of the fed-off sheets, and means forsimultaneously shutting off the suction and moving said fingers into thepath of the sheets.

18. In a sheet-feeder, a sheet support, a suction-feeding off devicearranged above said support, means for applying suction to said device,a series of rock-fingers located at the front edge of the support andnormally out of the path of the fed-0E sheets, and manual'means forsimultaneously shutting off the suction'and moving said fingers into thepath of the sheets.

14. In a. sheet-feeder, a sheet support, a suction-feeding 0E devicearranged above said support, means for applying suction to said device,a series of normally-depressed rock-fingers located at the front edge ofthe support and out of the path of the fed-off sheets, and means forshutting off the suction and raising said fingers into the path of saidsheets.

15. In a sheet-feeder, a sheet support, a suction-feeding off devicearranged above said support, means for applying suction to saiddevice, aseries of normally-depressed rock-fingers located at the front edge ofthe support and out of the path of the fed-off sheets, and means forsimultaneously shutting off the suction and raising said fingers intothe path of said sheets.

16. In a" sheet-feeder, sheet-feeding devices for continuouslyseparating the suc cessive sheets, means for advancing a bank 'offanned-out sheetsto the feeding devices,

and means controlled by the thickness of the bank below said devices andoperable independently of the action of said sheet-' feeding devices foractuating said bankadva-ncing means,

17. In a sheet-feeder, sheet-feeding devices for continuously separatingthe successive sheets, means for advancing a bank of fanned-out sheetsto the feeding devices, and means controlled by the thickness of thebank below said devices and operable independently of the action of saidsheeti'eeding devices for intermittently actuating said bank-advancingmeans.

18. In a sheet-feeder, sheet-feeding devices for continuously separatingthe successive sheets, means for advancing a bank of fanned-out sheetsto the feeding devices, and means for actuating said bank advancingmeans operable independently of the number or timing of the successivesheets fed off the bank, but controlled by the thickness of the bankbelow said sheet-feeding devices.

19. In a sheet-feeder, sheet-feeding devices for continuously separatingthe successive sheets, means for advancing a bank of fanned-out sheetsto the feeding devices, and means for actuating said bank-advancingmeans operable when the thickness of the bank below said devices isbelow a pre.

determined point.

'20. In a sheet-feeder, sheet-feeding devices for continuouslyseparating the suc cessive sheets, and means for advancing a bank offanned-out sheets to the feeding devices; and means for actuating saidbank advancing means operable when the thickness of the bank below thesheet-feeding devices is below a predetermined point.

21. In a sheet-feeder, sheet-feeding devices for continuously separatingthe successive sheets, means for advancing a bank of fanned-out sheetsto the feeding devices, and means for actuating said bank-advancingmeans operable when the thickness of the bank below said devices isbelow a predetermined point and placed in inoperative position when thebank below said feeding off devices is restored to its predeterminedthickness.

22. In a sheet-feeder, sheet-feeding devices for continuously separatingthe successive sheets, and means for advancing a bank of fanned-outsheets to the feeding devices, and means for actuating saidbankadvancing means operable when the thickness of the bank below thesheet-feeding devices is below a predetermined point and placed ininoperative position wlten the bank below said feeding-off devices isrestored to its predetermined thickness.

23. In a sheet-feeder, a feed-table, means for advancing a'bank offanned-out sheets I along said table, rotary suction-feeding devicesacting on the front top portion of the sheets for continuouslyseparating and feeding the successive sheets from the bank, and meansfor inaugurating the action of said sheet-advancing means when thethickness of the bank below said feeding devices is less than apredetermined point irrespective of the number or timing of thesuccessive fed-ofi' sheets.

24. In a sheet-feeder, a feed-table, means for advancing a bank offanned-out sheets along said table, a'rotary suction feedingwheel actingon the front top margin of the sheets for separating and forwarding samefrom the bank, and means independent of the action of said feeding wheelfor inaugurating the action of said bank-advancing means when thethickness of the bank below said feeding wheel is less than apredetermined point.

25. In a sheet-feeder. a feed-table means for advancing a bank of fannedout sheets along said table, a rotary suction-feeding wheel actin on thefront top margin of the sheets or separating and forwarding same fromthe bank, and means resting on the bank and in alinement with saidfeeding, wheel for inaugurating the action of said bank-advancing meanswhen the thickness of the bank below said feeding wheel is less than apredetermined point.

26. In a sheet-feeder,

a feed-table, means is less'than a predetermined point.

27..In a sheet-feeder a unitary pile-drag to rest on a bank of sheetshaving separate pairs of laterally spaced-apart resilient means bearingon the sheets.

. 28. In a sheet-feeder a unitary pile-drag to rest on a bank of sheetshaving a plurality of laterally spaced-apart resilient fingers I bearingon the sheets.

29. Ina sheet-feeder a. pile-drag adjustably mounted to rest on afanned-out bank of sheets and having a plurality of laterallyspaced-apart resilient fingers bearing on the sheets on either side ofits center.

30. In a sheet-feeder a pile-drag to rest on a bank of fanned-out sheetshaving sets of laterally spaced-apart resilient fingers bearing on thedifferent sheets on either side of its center. I 31. In. a sheet-feedera pile-drag to rest on a bank of fanned-out sheets having sets ofresilientfingers of different lengths bearing on the different sheets oneither side of its center.

' 82. In a sheet-feeder a pile-drag comprising separate laterallyspaced-apart means to bear with a variable pressure on the rear marginsof a fanned-out bank of sheets on either side of its center. a

In a sheet-feederapile-drag con1pris ing a plurality of laterallyspaced-apart resilient fingers of difierent lengths symmetricallydisposed on either side of its center to bear with a variable pressureon the rear margins of a fanned-out bank of sheets.

34. In a sheet-feeder a pile-drag comprising a plurality of pairs oflaterally spacedapart resilient fingersof different lengthssymmetrically disposed on either side of its center to bear with avariable pressure on the rear margins of a fanned-out bank of sheets.

35. In a continuous sheet-feeder having an upper supply-table and alower feed-table. 'coacting means for advancing a bank of fanned-outsheets along said tables, rotary suction feeding devices operating onthe front portion of the bank on the feed-table for separating andforwarding the successive sheets, and means for actuating saidbank-advancing means'on both tables operable when the height of'the bankbeneath, and in alineme-nt with said feeding devices is below apredetermined point.

36. In a continuous sheet-feeder having an menses upper supply-table anda lower feed-table, coacting means for simultaneously advancing a bankof fanned-out sheets along said tables, rotary suction feeding devicesoperating on the front portion of the bank on the feed-table forseparating and forwarding the successive sheets, and means for actuatingsaid bank-advancing means on both Cir ' upper tables operable when theheight of the bank adjacent said feeding devices is below apredetermined point. i

37. In a continuous sheet-feeder having an upper supply-table and alower feed-table, coacting means for simultaneously advancing a bank offanned-out sheets along said tables, sheet-feeding devices operating onthe front margin of the bank on the feed-table for continuouslyseparating the successive sheets, and means for actuating saidbankadvancing means on both tables operable when the height of the bankbeneath and in alinement with said sheet-feeding devices is below apredetermined point, and rendered inoperative when the'bank is restoredto its predetermined height.

38. In a continuous sheet-feeder having an upper supply-table and alower feed-table, coacting means for simultaneously advancing a bank offanned-out sheets along said tables, sheetfeedin devices operating onthe front margin 0 the bank 0n the feedtable for continuously separatingthe successive sheets, and means for actuating said bank-advancing meanson both tables operable when the height of the bank adjacent saidsheet-feeding devices is below a predetermined point, and renderedinoperative when the bank is restored to its predetermined height..

39. In a continuous sheet-feeder having an supply-table and a lowerfeed-table, coacting means for advancing a bank of fanned-out sheetsalong said tables, rotary suction-feeding devices operating on the frontmargin of the bank on the feed-table for separating and forwarding thesucces-- sive sheets, and means for automatically actuatin saidbank-advancing means on both tables operable when the height of the bankbeneath and in alinement with said feeding devices is below apredetermined oint.

- 40. In a continuous sheet-feeder aving an upper supply-table and alower feed-table,

coacting means for simultaneously advancing a. bank of fanned-out sheetsalong said tables, rotary. suction feeding devices operating on thefront margin of the bank on thefeed-table for separating and forward-'ing .the successive sheets, and" means for automatically actuating saidvbank-advancing means on both tables operable when the height of the bankadjacent said feeding devices 15 below a predetermined point, and

rendered inoperative when the 'bank is restored to its predeterminedheight.

41. In a sheet-feeder, a feed-table, means for advancing a bank offanned-out sheets along said table, rotary suction-feeding devicesoperating on the front margin of the bank for separating and feedingsuccessive sheets,

advancing means controlled by the height of the bank below said feedingdevices, and means for. automatically disengaging said actuatingv meansfrom said bank-advancing means operable through the continucd movementof the feeder.

42. In a sheet-feeder, a feed-table, means for advancing a bank offanned out sheets along said table, suction-feeding devices'op- 43. In acontinuous sheet-feeder, a suction feed-wheel for advancing the sheetsfrom the front top. portion of the bank by applying suction continuouslythereto.

44. Ina. continuousishe'et-feeder, a suction feed-wheel for advancingthe fanned-out sheets from-the front margin of the bank.

45. In a. continuous sheet-feeder, a rotary suctionfeed-device-operating on the front top portion of the bank by applyingsuction continuously thereto for separating and advancing the successivesheets.

46. In a continuous sheet-feeder, a rotary suction feed wheel operatingon the front margin of the fanned-out bank for separating and advancinthe successive sheets.

LEONA D J QSEPH- F'ROHN.

means for actuating said bank-i

